Clamp clip comprising a handle zone that is coated with soft synthetic material

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a clamp clip comprising two clamping arms ( 2 ) which form a clamping mouth ( 1 ), consist of hard synthetic material and have clamping jaws ( 3 ) on one end. A workpiece can be clamped and held between said jaws. Said arms can he pivoted around an axle ( 4 ) and continue on in the form of handle arms ( 5 ) beyond the axle ( 4 ). Said handle arms form handle zones ( 6 ) that can be encompassed by the hand of an operator. In an advantageous embodiment, use is facilitated by means of the handle zones ( 6 ) which are provided with a layer ( 7 ) of soft synthetic material.

[0001] The invention relates to a clamp clip comprising two clamping arms which form a clamping mouth, are made of hard synthetic material, carry clamping jaws, clamping a workpiece in between them, at the ends, can be pivoted about a pin and, on the far side or the pin, continue into handle arms which form handle zones which can be gripped by an operator's hand.

[0002] Such a clamp clip is previously known, in particular, from DE 21 781. In this document, the two clamping jaws are pressed against one another as a result of a spring, by means of which the two handle arms are spread apart from one another. By virtue of the two handle arms being pressed together, it is possible for the clamping mouth to be opened and the two clamping jaws to be moved away from one another.

[0003] Also forming the generic type are other clamp clips in the case of which the two arms cross over, so that the action of pressing the two handle arms together results in the two clamping jaws being pressed together, as is disclosed, for example, by DE 19933033.6. Such clamp clips are kept in the open position by an expanding spring and can be kept in the clamping position by latching.

[0004] The known clamp clips are gripped directly on the handle zone, which is produced from hard synthetic material, This zone may be profiled in order to give a better grip.

[0005] It is an object of the invention to develop a clamp clip of the generic type in a functionally advantageous manner.

[0006] The object is achieved by the invention provided in the claims. Claim 1 is based on the fact that the handle zones have a soft synthetic material coating. This configuration results in the operator's hand, rather than gripping the hard synthetic material directly, now gripping the haptically improved soft synthetic material. The technology of providing the soft synthetic material handle zone as a coating further has the advantage that the latter may be of contrasting color. A far greater selection of materials is also available. Furthermore, the form of an existing tool need only be changed to an unsubstantial extent. In a particularly preferred configuration, the soft synthetic material coating extends beyond the free ends of the handle arms. The handle arms are preferably curved. The curvature extends outward. Since the soft synthetic material coating is applied to the handle zone with a constant material thickness, the original curved contour is substantially maintained. A further preferred development provides that the soft synthetic material coating extends beyond the pin. It may be advantageous here if an indent is provided in the handle zone between the pin and free handle-arm end. At this location, directly behind the pin, the soft synthetic material coating then forms a saddle. If the clamp clip, furthermore, is of substantially mirror-symmetrical construction, then two saddles are located opposite one another, with the result that a gripping depression forms, it being possible for the latter to be gripped by the flexion crease between the thumb and index finger, on one hand, and the fore ends of the middle or index finger. In a preferred configuration, the soft synthetic material coating is attached to a smooth base by adhesive bonding. It may also be attached, however, by injection molding. Provision is further made for the soft synthetic material coating to be connected over its surface area to the base by means of ultrasonic welding. In the case of this preferred configuration, protuberances or protrusions project radially outward from the curved portion of the bases, which are produced from hard synthetic material. The soft synthetic material coating has corresponding openings, into which the protuberances can penetrate. It the protuberances are softened at their free ends by being acted upon ultrasonically, this forms melt beads which fuse into the soft synthetic material and are secured there in a barb-like manner.

[0007] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained hereinbelow with reference to attached drawings, in which:

[0008]FIG. 1 shows a view of a clamp clip according to the invention,

[0009]FIG. 2 shows an illustration of the exemplary embodiment in side view,

[0010]FIG. 3 shows a section along line III-III in FIG. 1, and

[0011]FIG. 4 shows an illustration according to FIG. 3 of a second exemplary embodiment.

[0012] A spring-action clamp clip is illustrated in the exemplary embodiment. It is also possible, however, to provide the invention on a differently functioning clamp clip, for example on a clamp clip in the case of which the two clip arms cross over and are connected to one another by a pin at the crossover point. If the two clip arms are then pressed against one another by the handles, the clamping jaws come into abutment against one another. By means of a latching mechanism, which may comprise, for example, a catch and a toothed rack, it is possible for the two clip arms to be fixed in this position.

[0013] In the case of the exemplary embodiment, the two clip arms do not cross over. Rather, protrusions which are connected to one another by a pin 4 project from them. On one side of the pin 4, the clamp clip forms a clamping mouth 1. This clamping mouth is surrounded by the clamping arms 2, which carry clamping jaws 3 at their free ends. As far as the configuration of the clamping arms and of the clamping jaw is concerned, you are referred to DE 29 506 836.1. This document also discloses that, on the far side of the pin 4, the clamping arms 2 continue into handle arms 5, which project away from one another in a V-shaped manner and form handle zones 6 on which the operator's hand can grip in order to move the clamping jaws 3 apart from one another. The clamping force is applied by a leg spring (not illustrated) which is designated 5 in DE 29 506 836.

[0014] According to the invention, the two handle zones 6 which are oriented away from one another are provided with a soft synthetic material coating 7.

[0015] The soft synthetic material coating 7 may be constituted by prefabricated parts which are curved in a number of directions and are to be connected to the base 9 formed by the respective clamping arm 5. These parts may be produced by injection molding. They can then be adhesively bonded to the base surface 9 or fastened thereon in some other way. The important factor is for them to follow the contour of the base surface 9.

[0016] In this case, the soft synthetic material coating extends beyond the free end of the handle arm and sheathes the curved cross-section of the handle arm 5 more or less to the full extent, so that the hand gripping the handle arm merely comes into contact with the soft synthetic material.

[0017] Directly adjacent to the pin 4 the soft synthetic material coating 7 forms a saddle 8. This saddle 8 forms two constrictions, which are located opposite one another and can be gripped by the front joint of the index finger and the flexion crease of the hand located between the index finger and thumb. The free end of one handle arm 5 is then located in the hollow of the hand. The end of the opposite handle arm 5 can then be pressed by the index or ring finger of the operating hand.

[0018] In the case of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the soft synthetic material coating 7 is connected by ultrasonic welding to the carrier, which consists of hard synthetic material and is formed by the handle arm 5. For this purpose, protuberances or protrusions 10 project from the base surface 9. These project into corresponding openings of the soft synthetic material coating 7. By virtue of being acted upon ultrasonically, the free ends of the protrusions 10 are acted upon by heat and melt. This forms an increase in diameter, which is secured in the associated opening of the soft synthetic material.

[0019] The soft synthetic material coating 7 may be attached to the handle arm 5 by injection molding. This can take place in two successive processes, in particular in two different machines. In the first injection-molding machine, the clamping arm 2, which consists of a first synthetic material, is injection molded. The clamping arm is then introduced into a mold of a second synthetic-material injection-molding machine. In a second injection-molding step, the soft synthetic material coating 7 is then attached to the handle arm 5 by injection molding. The two synthetic materials fuse with one another as the soft synthetic material coating is attached by injection molding.

[0020] In the case of a second variant, using so-called two-component injection molding, the soft synthetic material coating 7 is injection molded onto the handle arm 5 in the same mold in which the handle arm 5 is itself produced. This process requires only one injection-molding machine.

[0021] All features disclosed are (in themselves) pertinent to the invention. The disclosure content of the associated/attached priority documents (copy of the prior application) is hereby also included in full in the disclosure of the application, also for the purpose of incorporating features of these documents in claims of the present application. 

1. A clamp clip comprising two clamping arms (2) which form a clamping mouth (1), are made of hard synthetic material, carry clamping jaws (3), clamping a workpiece in between them, at the ends, can be pivoted about a pin (4) and, on the far side of the pin (4), continue into handle arms (5) which form handle zones (6) which can be gripped by an operator's hand, characterized in that the handle zones (6) have a soft synthetic material coating (7).
 2. The clamp clip as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the soft synthetic material coating (7) extends beyond the free ends of the outwardly curved handle arms (5).
 3. The clamp clip as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims or in particular as claimed therein, characterized in that the soft synthetic material coating (7) extends beyond the pin (4).
 4. The clamp clip as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims or in particular as claimed therein, characterized in that the soft synthetic material coating (7) forms a saddle (8) which is located on the handle arms directly behind the pin.
 5. The clamp clip as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims or in particular as claimed therein, characterized in that the saddles (8) associated with each of the two handle arms (5) are located directly opposite one another and form a gripping depression.
 6. The clamp clip as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims or in particular as claimed therein, characterized in that the soft synthetic material coating (7) is attached by adhesive bonding.
 7. The clamp clip as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims or in particular as claimed therein, characterized in that the soft synthetic material coating (7) is attached by injection molding.
 8. The clamp clip as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims or in particular as claimed therein, characterized in that the soft synthetic material coating is connected over its surface area to a base (9) by means of ultrasonic welding.
 9. The clamp clip as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims or in particular as claimed therein, characterized in that, for the surface-area connection, protrusions (10), which have their diameter increased toward the free end by melting, are positioned in openings.
 10. The clamp clip as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims or in particular as claimed therein, characterized in that the soft synthetic material coating (7) is confined to the outwardly oriented, curved handle zone (6) and the hollows of the two handle arms (5), which are formed by the curvature, are directed toward one another.
 11. The clamp clip as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims or in particular as claimed therein, characterized in that the soft synthetic material coating (7), as it is attached by injection molding, fuses with the synthetic material of the handle zone (6). 